Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 751 to 775 of 900 results

751. The Word Hate

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

"If anyone comes after me and does not hate... "Hate" is not primarily a feeling word in the Aramaic language, the language Jesus spoke. It is primarily a priority word. It means to abandon, to leave aside, to reject, or to love less than the other (comparative). A good example is that Jacob was loved and Esau was rejected, or "hated." Another good example is the story of Jacob: "and he went in al...

752. The World Is Crowded With Gethsemanes

Luke 22:39-46

Sermon

Brett Blair

The Garden of Gethsemane is not really a garden but an orchard. Olive trees still grow there today. During Jesus’ day it was a place of business, an olive press produced the local areas supply of oil. This is where the word Gethsemane comes in. A gat (Hebrew) is a press, a large five-foot high square stone pillar, and a semane, or seman, is oil. So on the evening before his crucifixion he went to ...

753. The World Needs Salt

Matthew 5:13-16

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: The church intercedes on behalf God for the salvation of the world. Props: A string that you will wet prior to its use, an ice cube, a salt shaker, and a dish. Lesson: [Putting the dish in front with a single ice cube inside it and the salt placed conspicuously beside the dish:] Good Morning, everyone! I have a little problem for you this morning. I have a bowl here and it has so...

754. The Worst Crime

Matthew 5:21-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

The famous British professor from a century ago Alfred Momerie says that it has often been concluded that murder is the worst crime. "But this will not do. He (the murderer) is generally executed for his crime and that is the end of him. But the sins of the temper and of speech and of thought, the sins of unkindness, or unneighborliness, are sins that we can go on committing without fear of punish...

755. There Always Comes an End

Luke 15:8-10

Illustration

Brett Blair

Brady Whitehead, chaplain of Lambuth College in Tennessee, tells the true story of a student whose parents were tragically killed in an accident. This student suddenly became the beneficiary of the estate. According to Brady, he started squandering the money on lavish trips. He would even invite other students to go along at his expense. He was spending the money so fast that Brady called him into...

756. There Is a Time to Touch

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

There are two kinds of touch, the first being physical touch. So often when Jesus wanted to transmit His power of love, he physically touched people the man born blind and the children in Jerusalem being two examples. An embrace, a kiss, an arm on the shoulder, a pat on the back all of these are ways of expressing a love which goes beyond words. It is lamentable that we are so paranoid on this su...

757. There Is Hope (A Christmas Communion Meditation)

Luke 1:67-80

Sermon

Brett Blair

The birth of John the Baptist puts a different spin on the birth of Jesus. We get to see the birth and life of Jesus through the eyes of relatives who were going through the same odd happenings that had surrounded Mary and Joseph. Zechariah and Elizabeth are the proud parent's of John, who would later be called The Baptist, new parents who are allowed to see into the future and understand that the...

758. There Is No Now

Illustration

Brett Blair

I want to pull a quote out of a very old TV series called MASH. B. J. Honeycutt, a character on the series gave this reason for why he didn’t give in to temptation in the midst of the Korean War: “I live in an insane world where nothing makes sense. Everyone around me lives for the now, because there may not be a tomorrow. But I have to live for tomorrow, because for me there is no now.” Don't yo...

759. They Grow in Clusters

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

Though I have never seen the Sequoia trees of California, known as Redwoods, I am told they are spectacular. Towering as much as 300 feet above the ground. Strangely, these towering trees have unusually shallow root systems that spider out just under the surface of the ground to catch as much of the surface moisture they can. And this is their vulnerability. Storms with heavy winds would almost al...

760. They Recognized Him

Luke 24:13-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim: To teach that we need God's assistance to see. Props: Prescription eye glasses and an eye chart (the chart can be hand drawn). The ideal situation is to use the glasses that one of the children may be wearing. If you have an optometrist in your congregation ask them to participate and bring an actual eye chart. Lesson: Good Morning! (response) I want to ask child's name with glasse...

761. Thinking Out of the Elevator Box

Illustration

Brett Blair

When facing a problem, we should try to look outside the box for solutions. We should try "detours and reversals," anything that will give us a different angle from which to ponder solutions. To illustrate, here's a story about a problem faced by executives of a large company. The company had moved into a new skyscraper and discovered that the builder apparently had not put in enough elevators. Em...

762. This Road Ends in a Knothole

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

Most everyone has come to a place in life where confusion and loss of direction sets in. It usually occurs while you are in your twenties but it can occur at anytime for many different reasons. The situation resembles that of the lost traveler in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. He inquired of a native, "Am I on the road to Kansas City?" "Well," the mountain man said, "Not exactly, Bud. This road...

763. Thomas

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

If I were to mention the names of certain disciples to you and ask you to write down the first word that comes into your mind, it is unlikely you would come up with the same words. If I were to mention the name of Judas many of you would write down the word betray but not all of you. If I were to mention Simon Peter, some of you would write down the word faith, but not all of you. If I were to men...

764. Thomas - Sermon Starter

John 20:19-23

Illustration

Brett Blair

If I were to mention the names of certain disciples to you and ask you to write down the first word that comes into your mind, it is unlikely you would come up with the same words. If I were to mention the name of Judas many of you would write down the word "betray" but not all of you. If I were to mention Simon Peter, some of you would write down the word "faith," but not all of you. If I were to...

765. Three Characteristics of Success

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Brett Blair

The most successful companies aren't successful because of charismatic leadership or because they found some "great idea" that no one else came up with. Instead, these highly successful companies share three distinct characteristics: First, the focus of each one had always been on a set of core values that never changed. Second, each company always had a purpose that was higher than just making a...

766. Three Hesitate

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

At the end of Luke chapter 9 we read the story about Jesus' final approach to Jerusalem. On his way he meets three men who wish to follow him and he warns them that it will cost them dearly to do so. To the three he says, you will be homeless, your family will be left behind, and your past life must be forgotten. As you can imagine the three, who were once so certain, are now hesitant. This story ...

767. Three Secrets of A Life Well Lived

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Sermon

Brett Blair

Some clever person has written a fictitious letter from a pastor to a church search committee. The letter reads as follows: "I understand your church is looking for a pastor. I should like to submit my application. I am generally considered to be a good preacher. I have been a leader in most of the places I have served. I have also found time to do some writing on the side. I am over fifty years ...

768. Three Secrets of a Life Well Lived - Sermon Starter

2 Tim 3:10 - 4:8

Illustration

Brett Blair

"I understand your church is looking for a pastor. I should like to submit my application. I am generally considered to be a good preacher. I have been a leader in most of the places I have served. I have also found time to do some writing on the side. I am over fifty years of age, and while my health is not the best, I still manage to get enough work done to please my congregation. As for a refer...

769. Three Small Steps in Our Faith Journey - Sermon Starter

Luke 17:1-10

Illustration

Brett Blair

One day the great Michelangelo attracted a crowd of spectators as he worked. One child in particular was fascinated by the sight of chips flying and the sound of mallet on chisel. The master was shaping a large block of white marble. Unable to contain her curiosity, the little girl inquired, "What are you making?" He replied, "There is an angel in there and I must set it free." Every Christian at...

770. Three Small Steps in Our Journey of Faith

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

771. Time of the Mad Atom

Illustration

Brett Blair

Every generation thinks it is hurdling towards too much progress. Here is a poem form the The Saturday Evening Post from 1949. This is the age Of the half-read page. And the quick hash And the mad dash. The bright night With the nerves tight The plane hop With the brief stop. The lamp tan In short span. The Big Shot In a good spot And the brain strain The heart pain. And the cat naps Till the ...

772. To Quote Jack London

Illustration

Brett Blair

A sportswriter visiting Raiders' headquarters in California was interviewing the team's quarterback, Ken Stabler, the sportwriter quoted some prose by Jack London: "I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. The proper function of men is to live, not exist." Stabler nodded his head. "What does that mea...

773. Tolerance the Wesleyan Way

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

The invitation to participate in the Lord's Table in the UnitedMethodistChurch is simply this: "Let all who love the Lord come." This is born out of John Wesley's philosophy, "We think and let think." Wesley said: "I have no more right to object to a man for holding a different opinion from mine than I have to differ with a man because he wears a wig and I wear my own hair; but if he takes his wi...

774. Translated Last Words

2 Tim 3:16

Illustration

Brett Blair

William Tyndale, first translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into English, making a Bible for the common people. In 1535 he was betrayed by a friend, taken prisoner to the castle of Vilford, but continued to work on his translation during his year of imprisonment. He was unable to finish last part of the Bible because he was sentenced to die a heretic's death: Strangulation and burning at the...

775. Travel Light

Matthew 10:9-10

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

Exegetical Aim:Christian missionaries should travel light, free of excess items. Props:A strong large backpack, a gym bag, a number of items that would be needed on a trip, and some unnecessary items. There should be too many to place in the backpack and gym bag. A few heavy items and a few long spindly items (e.g. a fully extended fishing rod) would help to weigh the child down. Other possible i...

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Showing 751 to 775 of 900 results

751. The Word Hate

Luke 14:25-35

Illustration

Brett Blair

752. The World Is Crowded With Gethsemanes

Luke 22:39-46

Sermon

Brett Blair

753. The World Needs Salt

Matthew 5:13-16

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

754. The Worst Crime

Matthew 5:21-26

Illustration

Brett Blair

755. There Always Comes an End

Luke 15:8-10

Illustration

Brett Blair

756. There Is a Time to Touch

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

757. There Is Hope (A Christmas Communion Meditation)

Luke 1:67-80

Sermon

Brett Blair

758. There Is No Now

Illustration

Brett Blair

759. They Grow in Clusters

Mark 5:21-43

Illustration

Brett Blair

760. They Recognized Him

Luke 24:13-35

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

761. Thinking Out of the Elevator Box

Illustration

Brett Blair

762. This Road Ends in a Knothole

Mark 8:31-38

Illustration

Brett Blair

763. Thomas

John 20:24-31

Sermon

Brett Blair

764. Thomas - Sermon Starter

John 20:19-23

Illustration

Brett Blair

If I were to mention the names of certain disciples to you and ask you to write down the first word that comes into your mind, it is unlikely you would come up with the same words. If I were to mention the name of Judas many of you would write down the word "betray" but not all of you. If I were to mention Simon Peter, some of you would write down the word "faith," but not all of you. If I were to...

765. Three Characteristics of Success

Luke 15:1-32

Illustration

Brett Blair

766. Three Hesitate

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

767. Three Secrets of A Life Well Lived

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Sermon

Brett Blair

768. Three Secrets of a Life Well Lived - Sermon Starter

2 Tim 3:10 - 4:8

Illustration

Brett Blair

769. Three Small Steps in Our Faith Journey - Sermon Starter

Luke 17:1-10

Illustration

Brett Blair

770. Three Small Steps in Our Journey of Faith

Luke 17:1-10

Sermon

Brett Blair

771. Time of the Mad Atom

Illustration

Brett Blair

772. To Quote Jack London

Illustration

Brett Blair

773. Tolerance the Wesleyan Way

Luke 9:51-62

Illustration

Brett Blair

774. Translated Last Words

2 Tim 3:16

Illustration

Brett Blair

775. Travel Light

Matthew 10:9-10

Children's Sermon

Brett Blair

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